Lechler has long been considered among the top punters in the league and is a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and nine-time All-Pro. He is also currently the NFL’s all-time leader in career punting average with 47.5 yards per punt.

The Texans had a strong punter in Donnie Jones last season, who averaged 47.2 yards per punt with 28 downed inside the 20, but Lechler is among the best to ever play the position in the league.

No surprise. This is the reason Reg kept Marquette King on IR last year.

However, King has some very large shoes to fill. Lechler was unbelievable for the vast portion of his career in Oakland.

lonespeed says:Mar 22, 2013 10:02 PM

Get it while you can punters. Soon the NFL will simply move the ball 45-yards down-field on 4th down, place the ball 1st and 10, and give possession to the other team. All in an effort to make the game ‘safer’.

The Raiders certainly deserve all kinds of criticism for how their organization has performed the past decade, but give em credit for always having elite kickers and punters. That might come across as a backhanded compliment but it seems like Al Davis, and hence the Raiders organization, always placed a higher importance on those positions than maybe any other organization in the league, throughout it’s history. It’s one of the calling cards of the team, really.

no offense to punters but the more well-known they are, the worse your team is…hopefully oakland can maneuver themselves over the next few years so we don’t have to give a damn who is punting the ball…that being said, lechler deserves to be on a team that can actually stonewall a defense after he pins them within 10 yards. good luck shane!

oldcat157 says:Mar 22, 2013 10:40 PM

Lol? A punter? It’s the other players on special teams that have to tackle the guy brah. He has a high average because the Raiders suck and are a three and out team.

It reminds me of that one season when former Bears safety Mike Brown made All Pro (i.e. 1st team All NFL) but didn’t make the Pro Bowl.

titans12thman says:Mar 22, 2013 10:44 PM

Here is a question for the texans most recent signings….If we were to specifically going to compare talent at a certain POSITION, who is more effective at their particular position….Thumbs up for Ed Reed and Thumbs down for Shane Lechler….you may cast your vote now.

Lechler was the only thing in Oakland commited to excellence. Nobody on the team was more conscistent than him. HoF for sure, sets the standard on what a punter should be. Im a niner fan but, giving the man his respect. If the game wasnt blacked out, bay area fans got to see him perform. Glad an NFC west team didnt sign him.

turdfurgerson68 says:Mar 22, 2013 10:53 PM

slashrageblog says:

One of the best punters ever, but still behind a fellow Raider, Ray Guy.

3 years worth $5.5 million with a $1 million signing bonus…. I know the Raiders could have kept him for that amount. It didn’t happen.
We all know that in the past we would have overpaid, but as much as I truly believe he should have retired a RAIDER, we have a new regime and I am going to believe that Red is taking care of the future by being cap smart in the present. Just my 2 cents…

nomoreseasontix says:Mar 22, 2013 11:04 PM

Shane was a big part of the Raiders not being worse over the last several years.
He gave the defense a chance at keeping the opponent pinned on their end of the field every time.
It would have been great to be able to keep him, but with a zillion holes to fill, it wasn’t a position to put a ton of money into.
King will no doubt get the job done…

Always loved Lechler!! The best punter of all time!! Hands down!!! But its time for a new generation of greatness and it includes not over paying for talent…period! I love what RM is doing, the Raiders will be great again very soon!! GO RAIDERS!!!!!

govtminion says:Mar 22, 2013 11:30 PM

Let me tell you how nice it’s going to be to NOT have him pinning the Broncos inside their 20 every damn time he touches the ball… damned good punter, good pickup by the Texans.

Lol? A punter? It’s the other players on special teams that have to tackle the guy brah. He has a high average because the Raiders suck and are a three and out team.
———-
Just say “No” to drugs, brah. The Internet is too easy. oldcat157 doesn’t realize Lechler was kicking back when the Raiders were good. Lol, loser.

thekingdave says:Mar 23, 2013 12:18 AM

This needs to be respected for the fact he’s one of us. From East Bernard, played at Texas A&M. We call him one of the greatest punters ever, and can say he suited up for the Texans. Likewise for Reed at safety.

goldrush36 says:Mar 23, 2013 12:24 AM

Richard Sherman was All Pro but not elected to the pro bowl. It’s not that rare because the pro bowl voting is often a sham… IE: Cruz going over Dez Bryant.. I think the aderall issue is what cost Sherm though but the point remains the same

The Texans will either be the niners of 94 or the Redskins of forever. Either they’re buying a Super Bowl, or earning their seat alongside the Skins as perennial jokes who waste money on players simply looking for their last few paychecks and nothing more.

coachglove says:Mar 23, 2013 12:52 AM

@r8rnuck – Ray Guy was arguably the best (and one of the most famous) punter of all time and he has 3 rings. Having a good/well known punter and being on a good team are not mutually exclusive. Please actually know something about football before you spout off.

Well played, Shane. For too many seasons you were one of our top offensive weapons, and you came through in the clutch so many times- which is more than the rest of the team can say. You are right up there with Ray Guy and you should BOTH be in the HoF. Enjoy the rest of your career but please rejoin the team at the end so you can retire in Silver and Black.

Sorry you left the Raiders. You are the best punter in football history in my opinion. Good luck to you in your new career in Texas.

rayguyreturns says:Mar 23, 2013 9:56 AM

“Joetoronto says:
Lechler is clearly one of the best but no, not better than Ray Guy…”
__________________________________
Joe,
First time I will disagree with you.
Guy= Pioneer of Punting
Lechler= More consistent

Raiders will have till Monday or Wednesday to match the offer since Shane Lechler was a restricted free agent. That means that the Raiders can offer him a contract as well
———–
Lechler was a UFA. That’s why King slept on IR last season. Janikowski is in the last year of his deal, so unless McKenzie restructures him he will be gone next year.

This a great pick with Reed and Lechler. But, Texans really needs help on offense, like a No.2 WR. They need to bring in Heyward Bey, Dominick Hixon from Giants. If Texans relying on a 1st round draft to help them at WR, they’re sadly mistaking.

Its not that RM lost Lechler, he gave an interview after the end of the season mentioning he and his wife were contemplating leaving because his wife has family in that area and just made a family descision to move on.
King has a huge leg and Lechler trained him on some things before leaving. King is just as as good ad Lechler when he came in the league. King has a hang time of 5.5 seconds and kicks it a mile. Thank for leaving your last touch with the Raiders Lechler and once a Raider always a Raider. You will be missed!

This is huge with that defense, and their ball control offense. They will be the best fantasy defense this year. I doubt I’ll be lucky enough to land them again because they aren’t flying under anyone’s radar now. Two years running I’ve had them with back to back playoff appearances. Man with Lechler pinning them deep in their own territory Ed Reed won’t have to run very far on a pick six. Texans-49ers/Seahawks Super Bowl sorry Tony G one more year will be in vain unless you give Pete Carroll a call.